Police say woman was assaulted for hours

DERRY — A 39-year-old Derry man with mixed-martial arts training is facing multiple assault charges for allegedly attacking his girlfriend at their Central Street residence on May 12.

Matthew Lambert of 16 Central St., No. 1, was arrested on a warrant on Thursday and charged with three counts of second-degree assault and four counts of simple assault.

On Tuesday, May 14, Derry police received a report of a domestic assault that happened earlier at 16 Central St., according to Police Capt. Vernon Thomas. Officers met with the 34-year-old woman, who was being treated for multiple injuries at Parkland Medical Center.

According to Thomas, the woman said she and Lambert were arguing around 9 p.m. on Sunday, May 12, when Lambert allegedly began to assault her.

"She stated that the assault continued for the next seven hours, during which time he strangled her on at least two occasions and bit her, slapped her, and kicked her repeatedly," said Thomas. "Her boyfriend has mixed-martial arts training and she stated at one point he placed her into a submission hold, causing her to nearly lose consciousness."

The investigating officers saw marks and bruises on the woman's body that were consistent with her description of the assaults, according to Thomas. Lambert was arrested on a warrant on the second degree and simple assault charges on Thursday morning.

Lambert's bail was set at $10,000 and he was transferred to the Rockingham County Jail.

He is due in Derry district court on May 23 for a probable cause hearing.